Cut Thin Strips Safely and Accurately
A zero-clearance insert with a splitter is one of the big keys to safely and accurately ripping thin strips. The insert prevents a strip from getting trapped between the blade and the opening. And the splitter keeps the strip from binding on the blade. (See information on a Freud rip blade).
To make a new insert for your table saw, you’ll need to start with a blank that matches the thickness of your stock insert. (Note: If the material is thinner, you can add screws to the bottom so you can adjust it perfectly flush with the saw table.)
After tracing the outline of the original insert on the blank, cut away most of the waste (Figure 1). Then use a flush trim bit in the router table to create an identical insert (Figure 1a).
Ripping a slot in the new insert is just a matter of carefully aligning the fence with the edge of the original insert and making a stopped cut, as in Figure 2. Finally, cut a hardwood splitter to size, sand one end to a point and glue it into the kerf with the point facing the blade (photo above).
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Sources for some of the hardware and supplies mentioned in this tip. |
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